Direction-indicator



W. F. DORRIDA.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV. 12. law.

1,383,192. PatentedJune 28, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEE'T I.

Inn/e nio r W F. Dorrzda,

W. F. DORRIDA.

DIRECTION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, I919.

1,383, 1 92. Patented June 28, 1,921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inuenior W F Dorrzda.

UNITED sur es WILLIAM F. DOBRIDA, O'FBALTIIORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF TENT OFFICE.

ONE-HALF TO To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. DORRIDA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Direction-Indica tors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in direction indicators of the character employing an lndicator adapted to be moved in either direction for indicating a turn to the left or right and has for one of its objects-the provision of an efficient electrical operating means which consists of a few parts so as to make the device extremely inexpensive to manufacture and one that will correctly operate under all conditions.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in cer; tain' novel features of construction, combination and arrangement "of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be hadto the following description, and accompanying draw- .ings, in which- Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a direction indicator constructed in accordance with my invention, I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the electrical means for operating the indicator in either direction,

Fig. 4 is' a perspective view of a bifurcated lever carrying the armature,

Fig. 5 is a perspective-view of a balancing lever and its supporting bracket, I

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustratin the device.

eferring in detail to the drawings, the numeral -1 indicates a casing adapted to be secured to an'automobile in any desired manner and at anydesired point upon the auto mobile so thatt'he casing will be in clear view to the traflic about the automobile. The casing 1 has a front window 2 and a rear win- Specification of Letters Patent.

, dials 5 and 6 and 'nal is being given by Patented June -28, .1921.

Application filed November 12, 1919'. Serial No. 837,441.

dow 3, and which rear window is of a size considerably smaller than that of the front w ndow. supporting plate 4 is arranged w1th1n the casing 1' and has positioned in the front of the same a front dial 5 and which is d rectly 1n rear of the front window. A rear d al of a similar construction to the front dial is arranged in rear of the rear window. A shaft 7 1s ournaled in the supporting plate 4 and extends through the front and rear has secured to its endsinmay be of any desired delnstance I have elected to show them 1n the outline of an arrow. The front indicator 9 is of a size considerably larger than the rear indicator to correspond with the front dial. The rear indicator is for the purpose of indicating to .the driver of'the' respective automobile if a correct sigthe front indicator. Asupportlng bar '10 is secured to the support ng plate 4 in spaced relation thereto and has ournaled 7 has formed therein a crank 11 which is disposed between the supporting bar 10 and the supportlng plate 4.

11 operating lever 12 is pivotally mountdicators 9 which sign and in this ed between the supporting plate 4 and the bar 10 and has its free end bifurcated as illustrated at 13 to receive the crank 11 of the shaft 7. The lever 12 is constructed of suitable insulating material and has secured thereon an armature 14 which extends to a polntadjacent the bifurcation. The armature 14 is provided with laterally extending wings 15 on each side thereof to be attracted by. magnets 16. The magnets 16 are secured to supporting blocks 17 secured to the supporting plate'4 on each side of the lever 12. .The blocks 17 are constructed from suitable insulating material. The armature 14 has formed thereon a downwardly depending wing 18. that terminates adjacent the bifurcated, end 13 of the lever 12, and its end comes inclose proximity to the crank 11 of the shaft 7 when the indicators 9 are swung into signaling position. The

magnets 16 are adapted to b'e energized separately in any well known manner and when one o the magnets are energizedit will attract the armature 14 swinglng the lever 12 in the direction of the same, causing the therein the shaft 7. The shaft cators 9 into horizontal position. To move the indicators in an opposite direction, the

other magnet is energized. A bracket 19 is secured to the plate 4 and has one end enlarged and disposed at right angles as illustrated at 20, and said end is provided with an elongated slot 21. A balancing lever22 is pivoted to one end of the bracket 19 and extends through the slot 21 and has its other end provided with a notch'23 adapted to receive the crank ll'of the shaft 7 The walls of the "notch 23 are inclined so as to permit the balancinglever 22 to ride freely on the crank 11. The lever 22 is provided with an elongated slot 24. A weight 25 is slidably mounted on the lever 22 at a point of the formation of the slot 24 and is provided with a set screw 26 that extends through the weight and slot 24: and is threaded into a locking plate 27 so that on screwing the screw home, the plate will be forced into engagement with the lever locking the weight against accidental movement-on the lever 22. Having the weighted lever 22 in engagement with the crank 11 of the shaft 7 will return the indicators 9 to their nonsignalingor vertical position when the magnets are de'einergized.

Lamp socket brackets 28 are secured to the front and rear faces'of the plate and adapted to support electric lamp sockets 29 that receive velectric lamps 30. The electric lamps 30 are for the purpose of illuminating the dials'in the indicators 9 at night time.

These electric lamps are furnished" with electrical current fromanysuitable source.

While I have shown .and described the preferred embodimentof my invention, it will be understood that minor'changes in construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is A l. A direction indicator including a casing, a supporting element in said casing, a shaft journaledin said supporting element, a crank formed on said shaft, an indicator secured to said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to the supporting element and having a bifurcated end to receive the crank, electrical means for oscillating the lever, a bracket secured to the supporting element and having one end disposed at right angles and provided with a slot, a lever pivoted to said bracket and extending through the slot and having a notch provided with inclined walls formed in its lower edge to receive the crank, and a weight adjustably secured to the last named lever.

'2. A direction iiidicator comprising a casing, a supporting element in said casing, a

shaft journaled in said supporting element,

a crank formed on said shaft, an indicator secured to said shaft, an operating lever pivoted to thesupporting element above the shaft and having its lower end bifurcated to receive the crank, electromagnets carried by the supportin element and arranged on op-,

posite sides 0 the operating lever and below its pivot, an-armature plate secured to the" operating lever and extending to a point adjacent its bifurcation, lateral wings formed on said plate and disposed on each side of thepperating lever adjacent the magnets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM DOR-RIDA.

Witnesses CHAS. S. SUTHERLAND,

v GAITHER Dix, 

